The Ultimate Guide to Building the Perfect Garage Gym (Part 1)

Introduction

Perfect Garage Gym

Why create The Ultimate Guide to Building the Perfect Garage Gym?

This guide is intended to be the only place you’ll ever need to go to find information about creating a garage gym that will allow you to get into the best shape in your life. Our goal is to provide you with all of the information that you need, so that you won’t have to look anywhere else.

We will give you the best information on equipment to use for your home gym, as well as other necessary information for your workouts. Go ahead and bookmark this page, because whenever you have a question about fitness that you can do at home, this is the only place you’ll need to go.

Who Is This Garage Gym Guide For?

weight_lifting_manIt doesn’t matter what your fitness level is. We want to help everyone be his or her physical best with a guide that is easy to understand and follow. However, we also will aim to be comprehensive enough so that even athletes who have years of exercise experience can rely on us to find new information to mix up their routines.

Whether you are an Olympic Weightlifter, a CrossFiter, a StrongMan or simply someone who just wants to keep in great shape with the convenience in their own home, this guide is for you. We will tell you the exercises to do, the equipment to do it on, how to be safe while doing it, and how to supplement your life outside of the commercial gym.

How To Use This  Guide?

If you are a beginner, use this guide to learn the basics. Think of this as a beginners course in how to start a life changing routine in your own garage. The great part is that once you have read through this guide and get a good feel for the information presented for beginners, you can then go back and refer to the information that is presented for more experienced athletes and change your routine to even further maximize your goals. Start small, but be ready to reach your optimum potential when reading through our guide.

Even if you have been lifting for years and consider yourself an old pro, there are always ways to change your workout. Many athletes experience plateaus and will eventually feel as if the training they are doing simply isn’t good enough anymore. This is a great chance to mix things up and add a new element to push yourself even further. Furthermore, you may learn a thing or two in this guide that may lead you to rethink your current routine.

Whether you completely restructure your routine, add to it, or simply use this as a beginners guide, this is the best guide to refer for working out in your gym.

A Note On Safety In Your New Garage Gym

safetyBefore you start any workout regimen, you want to make sure that your first priority is staying safe and remaining healthy. Be sure that you talk to your doctor with any questions that you have about a particular workout routine. We cannot guarantee any medical advice and instead just suggest you seek professional help if necessary. If you feel comfortable with the information presented in this guide, be sure that you don’t push yourself to a point past exhaustion. Sure, push yourself to be your best. But if you feel lightheaded or simply aren’t feeling it one day, don’t feel the pressure to put yourself in harms way.

Also, make sure that you stretch before each workout, in order to prevent injury or torn muscles. You can also limit the potential for injury by slowly progressing into a routine. Start your workout slow and work your way up as you get into your routine. Your body will then have a chance to warm up and your muscles will adjust to the physical exercise you are about to do.

Remember that the key to working out is staying safe. After all, if you get hurt you’ll likely be out of commission for some time and you’ll fall far behind in your workouts. Err on the side of caution, play it safe, and do the things that you feel necessary when the circumstances present themselves.

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Chapter 1: Garage Gym Foundation Equipment

An Olympic Weight Set

Snatch

The main staple to any garage gym is going to be an Olympic Weight Set. This weight set will include all of your weights, ranging from 2.5 to 45 pounds, bars and collars. If you take the time to walk into any gym, the first thing you will notice is that it is littered with free weights. These are typically the most important element to any gym and will provide you with the best opportunity to get some serious gains that you are looking for.

Bumpers or Plates

Rogue Hi-tempBumpers are the weights that makeup an Olympic Weight Set. Unlike older free weights that are made of metal and can be clunky, bumpers are beautiful weights that are usually color coordinated and can really spruce up the look of a gym.

As mentioned above, most bumpers range from 2.5 to 45 pounds as individual weights. For beginners, you can start off slow with only a beginners set, but more experienced lifters can continually add weights to their gym.

Along with your bumpers, you need to have a quality bar, or two, to put all of that weight on. A quality bar is going to be used for your bench press exercises, squats, dead lifts, Clean & Jerk, Snatch and even curls.

There is a plethora of exercises that you can accomplish with a bar, so it is important to make sure that you have a stable bar that will last for many years to come and fit your weights perfectly.

 

Bars

Eleiko Comp Bar mainOlympic bars are designed to hold a lot more weight than standard bars. Olympic bars are heavier and comes in at 20kg (men) and 15 kg (women), it is often able to hold well over 1000 pounds or more without bending.

They also provide knurl points for Olympic Weightlifting that have distinct beginning and end points (knurling is the part of the bar that you place your hands at). These are an important feature that ensures that you have the right grip when training (an important safety feature) in your home Gym.

 

Collars

lock Jaw CollarOnce you start throwing all of that weight around, you’ll want to have collars to keep them in place. Collars may not seem to be a very integral part of your garage gym, but they are just as important as any other piece of equipment. They will keep you safe by keeping your weight in place. Treat your collars as you would treat all other pieces of your garage gym.

 

Experienced and advanced athletes can trust in a brand like Rogue Fitness when it comes to purchasing bumpers, bars and collars. Rogue makes a variety of quality workout equipment, many of which will be listed in this guide. They offer different options in terms of weight set amounts, so if you want to buy a few thousand or a few hundred pounds of weight, you can do as you please. The best part about Rogue Fitness bars and collars is that they are specifically made to fit one another, as well as their bumpers. This means that all of this equipment will fit cohesively. This is extremely important when you are working out and will allow you to train without worrying about lackluster equipment.

 

For beginners, you will find a variety of options available online and at your local retailer. The great news is that you can purchase a Rogue Fitness set that is less weight and is perfect for beginners, if you so choose. This will make it easier to add weights to your set as you gain more strength and look to progress your workouts further.

However, if you want to find equipment that is a bit less than the Rogue Fitness, this is an option to. We highly recommend that you try out the bumpers, bars and collars before you purchase anything. That way you can assure that everything fits well together and that you get a good workout with the equipment. After you find the perfect weight set, consider looking online to find the best prices available to save some extra cash in your wallet.
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Our Recommended Professional Olympic Weight Set

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Our Pick for a Beginner Olympic Weight Set

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Bench

Legend Weight Bench

If you walk into any gym, you’ll see that all of the weight benches are full of people who are blasting their chest in hopes of getting some serious gains. If you are going to have a great set of bumpers, collars and a quality bar, you’re going to also want to have a sturdy bench to put it on. A flat bench is a great addition to your garage gym and will allow you to do a variety of workouts that target your chest and triceps.

 

Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Weight benchAnother option is to get an adjustable bench. Depending on the quality of your adjustable bench, most units will change from decline, to flat, to incline to upwards positions. This will allow you to adjust your weight and do a ton of different chest and shoulder workouts.

 

The difference between a flat and adjustable bench will come down to what you prefer. A flat bench is typically more sturdy and can be a better option for athletes who lift more weight. However, if you are looking to save money and have a versatile bench for your entire gym, then an adjustable bench is a great option. The best idea might be to check out benches at your local retailer, and then make a decision in terms of what you want to add to your garage gym.

 

Rogue Fitness makes a quality flat bench that is part of their Warrior Garage Gym package. We’ll touch more on that package multiple times throughout this guide. For advanced athletes, you can’t go wrong with this bench.

 

Legend Weight BenchAnother option for advanced athletes is the Legend 3 Way Utility Bench. Not only is this bench sturdy and will be able to hold a ton of weight, but it also adjusts to a variety of different levels which is perfect for workouts that you’ll be doing. And best yet, no matter the color of your gym, this Legend 3 Way Bench can be customized to match. It offers unmatched color options for the padding that is not only a nice touch, but a great compliment for any garage gym.

 

For beginner athletes, there are other options that include adjustable benches. The reason that a beginner may want to consider a different bench than those listed above is mainly because of the price difference. It’s understandable that as a beginner athlete who is making their garage gym to test the waters of weightlifting, they likely won’t want to invest a ton of money into their setup. However, keep in mind that these benches also won’t necessarily have the same benefits as the Rogue or Legend 3 Way.

 

The Body Solid Powerline is a multi-positional bench that can be adjusted to seven different positions. It is no frills, but stable enough for dumbbell or barbell exercises. The Powerline also goes for around $250, making it a great midlevel option. If you are looking for an even more price conscious purchase, then the Universal Five Position Weight Bench is a good choice. For just over $100, you’ll get a bench that adjusts to five different positions. This bench also comes in a grey color, which is a nice mix from the other plain blacks that you may be used to seeing.

 

The bench you choose is going to come down to preference and what you are willing to pay. Keep in mind that safety should be a top priority, so you’ll want to have a bench that you can trust to support you under as much as weight as you’ll be lifting. Furthermore, if you see yourself as someone who is going to commit to the sport and really go all out with your garage gym, it may be worth considering a long-term investment in one of the more expensive benches.

 

Here are workouts for your bench:

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Chest

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  • Barbell Chest Press
  • Dumbbell Chest Press
  • Incline Bench Press
  • Incline Dumbbell Press
  • Decline Bench Press
  • Decline Dumbbell Press

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 Shoulders

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  • Military Barbell Press
  • Military Dumbbell Press

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Legs

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  • Leg Squat
  • Quad Stretch
  • Box Squat
  • Dumbbell Bench Squat

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Triceps

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  • Dips
  • Two-Arm Overhead Extensions
  • One-Arm Overhead Extensions
  • Triceps Kickbacks
  • Skull Crushers

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Biceps

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  • Sitting Concentrated Curls

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Our Recommended Pros Bench

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Our Pick for a Beginner Bench

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Dumbbells

It’s pretty apparent that one of the most desirable physical features of any athlete is to have a set of arms that others envy. Whether you’re a man who wants 20” pythons, or a woman who wants shapely triceps that blend perfectly with defined biceps, a set of great dumbbells can help you achieve these goals. Aside from other gym equipment, there are probably more options for dumbbells than any other piece of equipment in the gym. When building your ultimate garage gym, there are typically three choices to go with: Olympic dumbbells, single weight dumbbells or adjustable dumbbells.

Olympic Dumbbells 

olympic-dumbbellOlympic Dumbbells come with a handle and than offer free weights that you can interchange depending on how much weight you want to put on them. The main elements to this type of exercise equipment will be a bar, the weights and the collars. Both APEX and Cap make dumbbell handles that are of good quality and would compliment any gym. Typically, these bars come 20” in length, which will allow you to throw on a variety of different weighs, depending on the type of exercise you want to do.

When looking for a quality Olympic dumbbell, make sure that the outer part of the handle looks sturdy enough to hold all of the weight that you are likely to put on it. Furthermore, make sure that the handle itself is something that will be comfortable when you are lifting. Some dumbbell handles will be smooth, while others will have a ridged surface. Most athletes prefer the latter option, as it offers you the chance to get a really solid grip when lifting. On the other hand, the more smooth handles can become slippery, especially when your hands get sweaty after a few sets.

As for the weights with Olympic dumbbells, these will typically come in smaller plates that can be stacked on to your handles. You likely won’t be stacking the same 45-lb bumpers on your dumbbell handle, so having an entirely different weight set is going to be a factor if you choose to go with Olympic dumbbells. Keep this in mind when evaluating the size of your garage gym and whether or not you want to have the extra weights lying around.

One of the most important elements to Olympic dumbbells are the collars. While collars on barbells are more used to hold the weights in place, they have a much more important use with dumbbells. Because the amount of space that is on a dumbbell is much less, it is vital to make sure that your weights are sliding around or have the potential of even sliding off. Also, while with barbells you may be doing simple up and down movements, dumbbells can often go in a variety of different angles and a good pair of collars will keep them in place. If you have collars that are always sliding out of place or, even worse, off your handle, than you risk the potential of hurting yourself during your workout.

Single Weight Dumbbells 

rouge-dumbbells-h1Single weight dumbbells are a way to avoid the need for collars. These weights come as they are, ranging form as little as 2.5-lbs up to 200-lbs in some instances. These are the dumbbells that you see when you walk into a huge fitness facility and look along an entire wall of dumbbells.

These types of weights are perfect for gyms and large facilities, as they allow multiple people to use the weight that they need. They also don’t require people to switch weights on a handle, which can speed up your workout routine as well. But in terms of a garage gym, you will have to evaluate how feasible single weight dumbbells are. If you want to have a good variety of weight options, you may be looking at a lot of space taken up just in order to store these bad boys. Sure, they are great weights and typically a more professional way to go, but if you don’t have the room, they may be less of a realistic option.

 

If you decide that you have the room for single weight dumbbells in your garage gym, Cap is again a quality brand to go with. They offer a variety of different weights that you can purchase, all that vary depending in total amount. They are a sturdy material that doesn’t offer much in terms of chipping or cracking, which can be seen in other models. Champion also makes a quality single weight dumbbell, though they can be a bit more pricey than the Cap models. The one nice thing about both of these brands, and many single weight dumbbells on the market, is that they come in a hexagon shape, which means they won’t be rolling around your garage gym when they aren’t in use. This can keep your workout facility much more organized and keep you more safe.

Adjustable dumbbells 

bowflex adjustable  dumbbellsAdjustable dumbbells are a new favorite for many athletes who have their own garage or home gym. These dumbbells have one stationary stack that the handle sets into. From there, you can chose the amount of weight that you want to use, click the weights into place and then get your lift on. Not only do these look great and really add flavor to a gym, but they also will limit the amount of space and hassle that you need to take up for a pair of dumbbells.

The only downside is that if you are looking for a set of adjustable dumbbells, you had better be ready to pay the price. Bowflex makes one of the top adjustable dumbbells available on the market, though they cost upwards of $300. Other options like the Weider SpeedWeight 120 and Ironmaster Quick-Lock are both in excess of $500. And one of our personal favorites, the Powerblock Elite 90, cost as much as $600 online.

 

You may notice as you are outfitting your gym that by the time you add up the cost of single weight dumbbells or Olympic dumbbells, the cost will start to get close to that of the adjustable dumbbells. Add in the fact that adjustable dumbbells won’t take up nearly a fraction of the space that other dumbbell sets will, and you can see why they may be worth the investment. Click here to review our top Adjustable Dumbbell set pick: (Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells)
You can do nearly any exercise imaginable with a set of dumbbells. Here are just a few ideas:

Chest

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  • Dumbbell Chest Press
  • Incline Dumbbell Press
  • Decline Dumbbell Press
  • Dumbbell Flies

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Shoulders

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  • Military Dumbbell Press
  • Standing Alternating Dumbbell Press
  • Arnold Press

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Triceps

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  • Two-Arm Overhead Extensions
  • One-Arm Overhead Extensions
  • Triceps Kickbacks
  • Single Arm Extension

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Biceps

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  • Sitting Concentrated Curls
  • Standing Concentrated Curls
  • Harmer Curls

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Legs

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  • Leg Squat
  • Lunges
  • Dumbbell Bench Squat

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The best part about dumbbells is they give you a lot of freedom to do even more than the workouts mentioned above. Be sure to consider the space that you have in your garage gym to really mix-up your workouts and get a lot of use out of your dumbbells.

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Our Recommended Professional Dumbbells

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Our Recommended Beginner Dumbbells
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KettleBells

ader kettlebellKettleBells have grown in popularity over the last few years with the influence of CrossFit athletes. KettleBells offer a variety of different workouts that otherwise aren’t available with dumbbells. Furthermore, the shape of the KettleBell, the ball and handle, you have to adjust how you perform many standard workouts in order to proportionally hold the weight. Anyone who is serious about making a home gym that is perfect for CrossFit, Olympic Weightlifting or Strongman athletes, KettleBells need to be part of your garage gym.

Standard KettleBells

Standard KettleBells are probably the exercise equipment you are most familiar with. These pieces have a handle and a ball that come in a certain amount of weight. These weights range from as little as 2.5-lbs and go up to 65-lbs.

You likely won’t find KettleBells above 65-lbs, simply because the type of workouts you do won’t be accommodating for the way your wrist will need to be positioned. After all, putting too much stress on your wrist is a great way to injure yourself and not be able to hit the gym for quite some time.

Ader makes a line of KettleBells that offer smooth and shiny look. If you are purchasing this Ader item for your garage gym, you can’t go wrong. However, if the smooth and shinny look isn’t what you are going for in you garage gym, there are also cast iron options as well. These are typically more solid and have a gritty look that is perfect for athletes who train hard and dirty (in a good way, of course!).

Adjustable KettleBells

adjustable kettlebellAdjustable KettleBells are another option. These weights, like adjustable dumbbells, have one stand that holds all of your weight. Then, when you want a certain amount, you simply slide the weight that you want into place and you are good to go. These are really neat and an innovative addition to add to your garage  gym. Kettletack and Mir are two reputable brands that offer adjustable KettleBells of varying weights.

Some exercises to consider with KettleBells include:

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  • KettleBell Windmill
  • Floor Press
  • Alternating Hang Clean
  • Alternating Row
  • Bent Press
  • Should Extensions
  • Extended One-Arm Floor Press
  • Front Squats
  • Lunges

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KettleBells offer a variety of different workouts that will train your muscles in ways that traditional weights wont.

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Our Recommended Professional KettleBells

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Our Recommended Beginner Kettle Bells

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Pull Up Rings

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Ah, pull up rings are going to be the most favorite and most hated part of your home gym. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to do a swinging pull up, only to fail miserably, no matter how jacked you may be. However, once you can complete your first pull up on the rings, you will be hooked and want to make your way up to doing more and more of these killer exercises.

Keep in mind that in order to have pull up rings in your garage gym, you will need adequate spacing and ceiling height. Because you will be pulling yourself up into a straight-armed position, having enough room so that you don’t hit your head is a major factor for including pull up rings into your garage gym.

Rogue Fitness makes pull up rings that any professional or elite athlete should include in their garage gym. Their W-4-4’ Wall Mount Rig rings offer 1.25”, 14-gauge steel tubing that you can rest assured will handle even larger athletes. Furthermore, the straps are durable and great for adjusting to different weights. When it comes to pull up rings, you can’t go wrong with Rogue Fitness, especially if you’re willing to drop the coin to get them.

The Rogue Pull Up Rings mentioned above will only run you around $75, which is a great investment. However, if you want to spend a little less, there are alternative options for beginner pull up rings as well. ProSource makes a set that is only $30, as are the rings offered by Nayoya.

Not only are pull up rings great for doing pull ups in your garage gym, but you can also use them for other exercises in the horizontal position as well. Consider wrapping your wrings around a pole or even a tree, and you can do rows, standing pushups and much more. CrossFit is all about having the most sturdy of supplementary muscles, and pull up rings are a great way to build those.

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Our Recommended Professional Pull Up Rings

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Our Recommended Beginner Pull Up Rings

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PowerRack and Squat Stand

power rackIf you want to get serious power and build muscle, you have to include legs into your workouts more often than not. Too many jokes are made about athletes skipping leg day and you can find plenty of memes online with pictures of athletes who are all upper body and no base. You don’t want to be one of those athletes, so make sure that you include legs into your workouts. Not only will you build great looking and shaped legs, but you’ll also develop more core strength that will improve many of your other exercises as well.

The best option for working legs in a garage gym is going to be a PowerRack or squat stand. A PowerRack is an all out stationary system where you can do squats, but also setup a barbell to do other exercises as well.

As mentioned above, we are huge fans of the PowerRack systems offered by Rogue Fitness. Depending on your needs, you can find a variety of different setups that range from $600 to a few thousands dollars. The best part about the more expensive units, aside from the fact that they are more sturdy and provide more workout options, as that you can also store your weights on them to keep them out of the way. For example, the RM-6 Monster Rack has an area for squats, shrugs, and pull-ups, as well as plenty of room for you to store your bumpers when they aren’t being used.

If you cringe at the idea of spending thousands of dollars on a PowerRack, and even the lower end model of the Rogue Fitness is still too steep, there are options that can be found for under $500.

PowerLine makes a power rack that has a large walk-in design that offers plenty of space for exercise. Another option is this PowerRack, which goes for around $260. A PowerRack is a serious piece of equipment and is likely to take up a good amount of space in your garage or home gym. Therefore, you should make sure that it is sturdy and solid. And while Rogue Fitness is still the industry leader, beginner athletes can find other options for much less.

PowerRacks are perfect for:

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  • Squats
  • Shrugs
  • Flat Bench
  • Incline Press
  • Pull Ups (If a pull up bar is included on the machine)

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If you want to be taken as a serious competitor, your leg training needs to be a staple of your fitness routine. By adding a PowerRack to your home gym, you will have a stark reminder looking you in the face every time you step foot in the garage saying, “Get over here and squat!”

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Our Pros Recommend Power Racks

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Our Beginner Recommend PowerRack

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Rowers for your Gym

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When it comes to mixing up your cardio routine, a great way to do it is with a rowing machine. Rowing not only helps you gain upper body stamina, but it also will help develop a larger and more defined back. Our professional level rower is going to be the Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine.

This rowing machine will run you near $900, but with the features it offers, it’s certainly worth it for your garage gym. It’s innovative flywheel design makes for a smoother row that is also quieter than other models. And when you have to store it away, you can do so by breaking the machine down into two separate parts. If you are only using a bike or treadmill for your cardio activity, it’s time to mix it up with a great rower like this Concept2 Model D.

stamina rowerA less expensive model for beginner gyms is the Stamina Air Rower Rowing Machine. The price runs upwards of $300 and is a great alternative to garage gyms.

The highlight of this machine is the monitor that displays speed, distance, time and calories burned during your workout.

When it comes to storage, the options aren’t as available as with the Concept2, but if you have this in a gym, you may not need to move it out of the way anyways.

We recommend saving for a concept 2 rower, but if you need something more affordable then the Stamina Air Rower may work for you.

 

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Our Pros Recommend Rower (Concept2 Model D)
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Our Beginner Recommend: Start Saving because the Concept Rower is worth it
or Stamina Air Rower

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Glut Hamstring Developer (GHD)

rogue-ghd-5

After you get done rowing for your upper back and lats, it’s time to work on your Glute-Ham Developer. A GHD exercise machine is a staple for strongmen, Olympic weightlifters and CrossFitters alike, and should certainly be a part of your garage gym. You will gain tons of lower back strength with GHD workouts, which will help you with core strength when lifting heavy weights and maintaining good form. The best GHD machine on the market right now is the GH-1 Rogue Abram GHD. What we love about this machine is how stable it is and also how comfortable you’ll be when working out. There is nothing more annoying than having exercise equipment digging into your legs while doing GDH exercises, but the padding offered on this machine will be comfortable on your legs.

For beginners, the Apex Roman/Hyper Extension Bench will likely do the job for your home gym. It’s nothing over the top, but the heavy frame makes it sturdy when you are going from negative-90 to 180-degrees. There is also a leg adjustment bar on this model, so athletes of all sizes will find the right fit. While the GH-1 Rogue Abram GHD goes for around $700, the Apex Roman is roughly $100.

Get ready for a lower back workout that will make you feel like a whole new athlete, with a GHD workout machine in your garage.

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Our Pros Recommend GHD

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Our Beginner Recommend GHD: Save money and Do more Squats Reps
or Apex Roman/Hyper Extension Bench

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Dynamax Ball for your  Gym

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Dynamax Medicine Balls are perfect for athletes looking to gain core strength, as well as become more explosive with weigh added movement. You can find a lot of medicine balls available, but we like the Dynamax because of its high quality and how good it feels.

We have tested other medicine balls that obviously get much looser through time. This can be a major issue, especially when you have a ball flying at your face and you want to be sure you catch it properly. Dynamax balls are built with impact absorbing material that is meant to help you maximize your workouts. They range in size from 2-lbs to 20-lbs and their price is typically between $80-$120 depending on weight. Medicine balls are perfect for core movements and building dynamic strength.

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Our Recommended Dynamax Balls for Beginner or Pro

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D-Ball Medicine Ball in your Gym

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The difference between the D-Ball Medicine Balls and the Dynamax is that while the Dynamax is a softer material and typically a smaller ball, the D-Ball medicine balls are made of a more solid-like material that is often rubber. You can find D-Ball medicine balls through a variety of distributers, obviously including Rogue Fitness but plenty of other options as well.

While the prices will vary, the key is to find a medicine ball that claims to have no bounce. Balls that bounce are not ideal for garage gyms and small spaces, and also make impact movements much harder when trying to quickly return a medicine ball to another athlete. These have become a must have for any garage gym and on the plus side it every affordable.

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Our Recommended D-Balls for Beginner or Pro

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Jump Ropes in your Gym

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Speed Ropes

For the days that you want to mix up your cardio and work on your foot speed, consider doing jump rope drills. There are two different options for jumping rope, that being a speed rope or a weighted rope. Speed ropes are obviously lighter and are intended to fly around more quickly. They will help you develop quicker reaction time in the fast-twitch muscles in your legs.

Weight ropes

Weight ropes, on the other hand, will help you develop just a slight bit more arm strength, as it’ll take more effort to swing the rope. Jumping rope is a great option for both beginners and experience athletes alike. What you pay will range between $5-$30, so find somewhere in the middle of the road that feels comfortable and you can see yourself using to jump with.

Every garage gym need a jump rope that’s just basics, the question is which one is right for you?

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Our Recommended Speed Jump Rope for Beginner or Pro

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PlyoBoxes in your Gym

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PlyoBoxes are another piece of equipment that will help you build legs and also develop you’re the speed in your lower body. These boxes get their name from being used for plyometric workouts, which involve jumping up and down from the box to the ground, and then back up in a repetitive fashion. For experienced athletes, the Rogue plyoboxes come in a variety of sizes, all of which are of the utmost quality. These boxes come in 12”, 18” and 24”, each with increasing difficulty as your body adjusts more and more to plyometric workouts. A perfect addition to any garage gym.

For beginners, a nifty DIY project that you can undertake to make your garage gym even more express your taste is to make plyoboxes of your own. You can find plenty of guides online that will help you make these boxes. But in reality, all you’ll really need is a few pieces of wood or a stable place to jump on to. If you aren’t prepared to buy the Rogue Fitness boxes, you can use a much more simple, and cheaper, alternative until you begin to develop the need for more professional boxes.

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Our Pros Recommended Plyo Box

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Our Beginner Recommendation: Make your own

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A Platform for your Gym

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Last, but certainly not least, no garage gym is complete without a platform. Any Olympic weightlifter is going to want o have a platform to better prepare for your competitions, but they are also good for any athlete who wants a solid and sturdy place to workout at. The Rogue OLY Platform comes in 12 rubber tiles that you can build on your own to make an area that perfectly fits in your home gym.

While the OLY Platform does cost upwards of $245, a much cheaper alternative, and another DIY project, is to get plywood and attach a rubber surface to the top of it. You may be surprised by the amount of makeshift garage gyms that have gone this route to save money, but also have a well-built area for doing serious lifting like deadlifts and power cleans.

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Our Pros Recommendation coming soon.

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Our Beginner Recommendation: Make your own

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Conclusion To the Perfect Garage Gym: Chapter 1

Well, there you have it. Thanks for sticking with us the entire time as we outlined all the important factors for beginning your garage or home gym. If you add a few, or preferably all, of these elements to your gym, not only will you have a place that all your friends will be begging to train at, but it’ll also allow you to optimize your workouts. Say goodbye to gym memberships and excuses for not driving to the fitness club, and say hello to an awesome garage gym that is all your own.

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In our next post we look at The Best Adjustable Dumbbells set within Budget. Thanks for visiting www.olympicweightsetreview.com, if you liked this article please use our social buttons to give us the thumbs up.

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